Egg carton filling apparatus



May 16, 1950 K. T. BUTTERY ET AL EGG CARTON FILLING APPARATUS 2 Sheets -Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 15, 1945 INVENTORS. Kim [m Z fiurmer fl/f/Yf flaw/1E0,

EGG CARTON FILLING APPARATUS bk W MW a //@.4- 5 ag y 5 a Ha. I MM Z w/d Patented May 16, 1950 UNITED STATES ENT OFFICE mazco, Mich, assignors to Sutherland Paper Company, Kalamazoo, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Application October 15. 1945, Serial No. 622,270

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in egg carton filling apparatus.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a filling apparatus for egg cartons which greatly facilitates the filling thereof and the closing of the cartons.

Second, to provide an apparatus of this character which occupies a relatively small amount of space, the structure being in the form of a table which may be readily tion of use and arranged in the position most convenient to the operators.

Further objects relating to details and economies of the invention will definitely appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined in the claims.

A structure which embodies the features of the invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of an apparatus embodyin our invention, egg cartons being shown conventionally and partially broken away in a filling position, and one filled carton being shown in one of its positions of translation.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section on line 2--2 of Figs. 1 and 3.

transported to desired posi- Fig. 3 is a fragmentary transverse section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1, the cartons being omitted.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view in transverse section of line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view in transverse section on line cartons in Position.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view of line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

The embodiment 5-5 of Fig. 1, with filled egg of the invention illustrated Y comprises a table designated generally by the nu meral i and consisting of suitable frame work 2 on which the top 3 is supported. The table is provided with legs 4. At its front end the table top is provided with longitudinal slots 5, and has longitudinal walls 6 and l spaced laterally rela-' tive to each other and to the slots, these longitudinal walls coacting with the table top to provide a holder for a group of cartons 8 disposed in side by side relation between the walls, as is shown in Figs. 2 and 4.

The cartons are of the cell type and are each adapted to receive a dozen or other predetermined number of eggs, commonly one dozen. The cartons are provided with covers 9 and they are arranged in the holder or between the walls 6 and I with the cover of one of the cartons adjacent the higher wall in upright position, as shown in Fig. 4, the covers of the other cartons being disposed through the slots 5 as shown in that figure.

We provide a pusher 10 which is disposed between the walls and slidable on the table to eject the cartons from filling position. This pusher is manually operated on its ejecting stroke but is automatically returned to its initial position. The pusher is provided with a slide ll traveling in the slot l2 in the table top, a slotted support l3 being secured to the under side of the table top to support the slide. The slide is provided with an I-bolt Hi projecting through the slot of the support is to which the cable i5 is connected, the cable being biased by the spring it connected at one end to the frame work. The cable passes over the guide pulley i1. With this arrangement the pusher is automatically returned against the stops or abutments H! which are provided with resilient bumpers IS.

The pusher is preferably provided with an inclined edge 20, being inclined inwardly from the top edge of the wall 7 to thetop edge of the higher wall 6. The pusher thus projects above the level of the tops of the cartons whereby it, together with the wall 6 which also projects above the tops of cartons, provides means for engaging the loading tray 2| for accurately positioning the same above the cartons for transfer of the eggs from the loading tray to the cartons as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 4, the eggs being indicated at 22. Suitable loading trays are commercially known in the art and therefore we do not illustrate the details thereof.

The trays are adapted to receive three dozen eggs and to support them when the tray is positioned as shown in Fig. 4 above the cells of the cartons. The tray is designed to release the eggs, allowing them to drop into the cells. A group of loaded cartons are ejected by the pusher into the ways 23, 2A and 25. These ways are formed by securing rib-like strips 26 in spaced pairs to the topof the table. The way 23 is straight while the ways as and 25 are bowed outwardly, their rear ends coming into parallel position with the intermediate way. The table top is provided with elongated openings 21 and 28 which communicate through the throats 33 and 34 with the slots 5 in the holder section of the table.

As the cartons are pushed rearwardly in the ways the downturned covers enter the openings 21 and 28 which are of such width as to permit the covers to spring upwardly and therethrough without substantial stress on the covers. The cover of the carton traversing the way 24 is drawn upwardly over the edge of the slot adjacent the way and. as the carton is translated engages cam 29 which swings the cover to fully upright pcsition by the time it reaches the rear portion can: the cam. The cover of the carton traversing'the 'smed at n pute ways ahdvact n way 23 is swung upwardly through the opening 28 by the inclined edge thereof adjacent the way and is picked up by the cam 3| and finally swung to erected position by the rear portion 32 of the cam. Thecartonsaremovedalong the ways by the thrustofithe succeeding cartons. When the cartons reach the rear end of the table they are brought into side by side relation for the convenience of the operator in closing the covers. The cartons are supported so that this can be very rapidly and easily efiectednand thecartons lifted from the table.

We have illustrated and described Q11! invention in a high practical embodiment thereof. The structure is simple and convenient .to use and it is used most einciently by two operators, one'filling cartons and the other closing the covers. and removing the cartons-from the table. We have :n t eattemptedrt i us rat or descr be ce tain rmodiiications or adaptations, particularly in estructural details, which we contemplate for partieular em-bodiments as ;it is believed .this rdisolesuregwilltenable those iskilled in the ,art to embody. -or adaptour invention as may be desired.

rlia /inst t l lsi described. our. invention what we .telairn as newganddesire tosecure by Letters Pattent is:

' 1. .A {carton filling apparatus comprising a stable mps-havin -$paced parallel longitudinal ,slots at its front end.; ,cqmmunic ating withlongitudinahopenings of: :a .width substantially ex- ,ceeding thatof thfi--1S1QtS, paI.3.1]81 walls of .difierentheights;laterallyispaced relative. to. each other and to said slotstzone of: the walls being substan- -.tially the: height-of the side walls of the cartons to baii-lled -andthe-other beingsubstantially higher- -the-twallslbeing spaced toconstitutea holder ,ior a,groupqofzcartonsdisposedin side-by side -relation-with. the cover ofjone, carton of the group disHQSEd-in upright position and, supported by the; highsr wall thev covers of the other cartons of the group .being disposed downwardly through s-said slufisssaid table also, having, a slot constitut- ,ingsa pusher slideway; a pusher slidably mounted on said, table to engage; the r ear endsof a group of. cartonsv betWeQnrthe -said walls and 7 provided v th aside-re ears n said slidew v, the upp r edge of said pusheII-bfingJneIined ,toward. the low r Ofgthewalls but; projecting above the'car- {130115; in. 1711911016161 to constitute a, guide fonone edg of. a :load n a spring means f r re- .turningsaid, pusher to its 7 initial position, pairs ,pf-ribs arrangedon saidutable top to constitute Eanintermediatewand aside ways for the cartons, esaid, carton wayst extending rearwardly from, the holder 1 to-receive the -,c,a1 -.tons: eiected therefrom, the in media e ways;havjng,;outward1y-bowed portions and tertninatingeat their rear ends in portions parallel withthe intenznediate way,the said openings in ;sa;id-;tablebeing of such -,-width;as to permit the swinging ofthe downturned-cmuers therethrough as the cartons aretranslated along. the-ways, and score erectin am adisposed b tw en t intert sw n the cetgerswwh h were disposed in downwardly di- :reeted mod o whil he --.ca1"-1"0 Were in the holde s-tozaniun h rnesit n- A; carton- -filling apparatus comprising a :table top having spaced parallel longitudinal ,-s lots at its ;;fr ont communicating with longitudinal openings, parallel walls er different s-he shts lat rall asp d ;:re at ve to -.c o h sand;togsaidsslctszthe-ina;c :beineasna edsto cenway being straight, the side- ,way, the upper edge of toward the lower of for returning said, pusher and, terminating ,insthe holder to .rear ends 01 a group, of cartons one edgeof a, cartonloading ,dividually-receive the ejected from :between saidside Walls .by said -slidably mounted on said table to engage the rear ends of a group of cartons between the said walls andprovided' with a slide engaging said slidesaid pusher being inclined the Walls, but projecting the holder to constitute a forcne-edgeof a loading tray, spring means to its initial position, pairs of ribs arranged on said table top to constitute an intermediate and side ways for the cartons, said carton ays extending rearwardly above j the cartons in guide .irom ,the holder to receive the cartons ejected therefrom, the intermediate being straight, the side wayshaying outwardly.bowedportions at their-rear,,-ends in portions parallel with the, intermediate way,,the said openings in said table being of such width as topermit the swinging of the downturned. coverstherethrough. as the cartons are translated alongthe ways, and, cover erecting cams disposed between the intermediate andouter-ways and actinglto .swingthe covers which were disposed indownwardly directed position, while the oartonswere an uprightposition.

.3. cartonfilling apparatus compr-isingHa-table ,tep. having parallel vlongitudinal. slots atits front end and carton holder .nzalls. disposedlaterally of said slots andsadapted, to receiveagroup otcpencartons between them with Uthecover of one carton disposed .in an. unrightposition and the covers of the other cartonsoi the group disposed downwardly through saidslots, a pusher slidably .mounted on said table to engage the between said walls, said pushenconstitutingguide means for tray, one of-the Walls being of substantially the height-of the W2 -11S- Of.the carton, the other wall, being of -such height-as to :constitute a positioning stop for another edge of the loadingv tray, (ways. extending rearwardly from .said'walls adapted stonincar-tons when they are pusher, the outer Ways beingiboiwied outwardly,

the table top having openingstherein; comm-unicating with said slots and adapted-to,-receive the downturned-covers and beingof-such width as io perrnit :theiccvers toswing upivardly therethrough-asthe: cartons are translated along, the

:ugays. the cdges of -,the-openings adjacent ,the waysin whioh'the cartons aretranslated being forwardlyinclined, and covererecting, camsdisvposedbetween the-intermediate and the sideways and; adapted to swing the COV6IS-1WhiCh-EV6T8-,(11S- posed in downwardly directed position whilei-in filling; position to an upright positionfacilitating the closing thereof.

ET T- Tf T-ERK- EUGENE 1R. HUBBARD. REFERE CES CHE The; following z-references; are; 0f re file of 1 this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS cord: 1311 Number 

